Hercules and the other awesome roles of Steve Reeves

This isn’t the weirdest record I own either, but it is pretty sweet.  These two tracks are just side one of the Hercules soundtrack.  Side two has a big scratch, unfortunately, so most of it doesn’t play very well.

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This movie was a huge commercial success, grossing over $5 million in 1959.  The story is actually based on that of Jason and the Argonauts, with the lead role recast as Hercules, played by bodybuilder Steve Reeves.  It sort of launched a new career for him and in the years to come he played some of the coolest roles ever, including:

Hadji Murad in Tartar

Hadji Murad, nineteenth century Avar freedom fighter. Yep, Chechnyan have been trying to get rid of Russians for a looooong time.

Romulus, the founder of Rome (Gordon Scott played Remus)

Pheidippides, in The Battle of Marathon

Pheidippides, the messenger of the Battle of Marathon. Yep, the modern marathon (26 miles and 385 yards) began as a commemoration of his famous run.  This statue is along the Marathon Road in Greece.

Captain Henry Morgan, in Morgan the Pirate

I’m just assuming this is the real Captain Morgan.

Karim, the Thief of Baghdad

the Malaysian pirate Sandokan (twice!)

and Aeneas of Troy

Aeneas, carrying his father and leading his son as they flee Troy as it is destroyed by the Achaeans.  You can see this statue by Gian Lorenzo Bernini at the Galleria Borghese in Rome.